Faith Facts

• The Society of the Free Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Midtown Manhattan has preserved its historic sanctuary by transferring unused development rights rather than selling the building itself.
• Church leaders chose to protect their ministry and worship space while still providing for long-term financial stability through a $23.9 million agreement.
• This decision reflects a commitment to faithful stewardship of both sacred property and future ministry needs.

The historic Society of the Free Church of St. Mary the Virgin has taken a significant step to safeguard its future while honoring its past.

According to court documents, the congregation has agreed to sell 87,000 square feet of unused development rights above its Midtown Manhattan property to Extell Development for $23.9 million.

This transaction allows the church to retain ownership of its sanctuary and continue its ministry without the pressure to sell the building outright.

“The church’s leadership carefully weighed this decision in light of both their calling to preserve worship and their responsibility to provide for future generations of believers,” a church representative stated in the filings.

The sale of air rights represents a creative approach many urban congregations are considering as property values soar and maintenance costs rise.

By transferring only the unused development potential above the building, St. Mary the Virgin keeps its historic structure intact while securing substantial resources for ministry and upkeep.

This path stands in contrast to other New York City churches that have faced pressure to sell their properties entirely to developers.

The agreement demonstrates how faithful institutions can navigate modern real estate challenges without compromising their core mission or sacred spaces.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Faith Facts

• Navigators UK has developed a new course to equip ordinary Christians with disciple-making skills.
• The course is designed to help believers share their faith effectively in everyday life.
• Navigators UK continues a long tradition of training Christians to make disciples who make disciples.

Navigators UK have developed a new course to help ordinary Christians become effective disciple-makers.

Christians across the United Kingdom are being invited to take part in training that focuses on practical disciple-making skills.

The course aims to move believers beyond theory and into real relationships where faith can be shared and multiplied.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Faith Facts

• Scripture teaches that God created male and female in His image, establishing biological sex as a fundamental reality.
• Christian teaching affirms the dignity of every person while upholding the truth of God’s design for human identity.
• Believers are called to speak truth in love, especially when medical and cultural institutions challenge biblical standards.

Christians across the United Kingdom are urging the British Medical Association to withdraw its opposition to NHS guidance that respects biological sex in medical care. The association has expressed deep concern that such guidance could be exclusionary to trans-identifying staff and patients.

Christian Concern maintains that medical policy must be grounded in biological reality rather than ideological demands. They argue that protecting women’s spaces, sports, and medical treatment requires clear recognition of sex as an objective fact.

“Guidance should be determined by biological sex,”

Christian Concern stated in response to the BMA’s position. The group emphasizes that compassion for individuals experiencing gender distress does not require rewriting medical standards or erasing the differences between men and women.

Advocates for biological sex-based policy point out that women’s health, safety, and fairness in single-sex spaces depend on maintaining clear distinctions. They warn that replacing sex with gender identity in medical guidance risks compromising care for female patients and staff.

Faith leaders continue to call on medical bodies to resist political pressure and instead uphold standards rooted in science and the created order. They remind Christians that standing for truth is an essential expression of love for neighbor.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.